Day One: London to Bruges

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Started the morning by getting up at the unholy hour of 6 am (a regular feature of the trip) and going to meet the bus at Cleopatra's Needle. Seeing as I can't actually lift my bag onto my shoulders without assistance I am very, very glad that we got a taxi there.

The Needle was suprisingly beautiful at sun rise, backlit by a red sun rising from misty buildings into a pink sky. I didn't want to leave my family at all but after a lot of hugging I got onto the bus and found a seat near to a Kiwi called Frances, a Brit called James and a German called Katja.

We got to Bruges mid afternoon and went on a bike tour, which was an extra but very worth it; the highlght was the guide's description of the English archery club, which is incredibly prestigous. Why is a good question; it starts with a beer drinking session, after which the now drunk members go and shoot at wooden targets at the topof a pole at a distance of one metre from the base (i.e. straight up in the air). Even more dangerously, the celebration for hitting the main 'bird' is firing a small cannon. While drunk. Apparently they also have to wear huge wide brimmed helmets too, while doing this. 😉

Bruges is the most picturesque city in the world; everything is gilded and intricately carved. It totally deserves the title of Venice of the North.

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